Never Give Up! God Will Send Help - Part 1

Jesus' parable in Luke 18 illustrates two critical components of resilience. One is persistence, which is required for getting legitimate personal needs met with satisfaction. The other demonstrates the limitations of resilience by refusing to do the right thing. Godly stubbornness or steadfastness always seeks justice and goodness.

Listen as Jesus teaches about praying constantly and with determination. "There was a judge who never gave God a thought and cared less for people. However a widow kept after him seeking justice: 'My rights are being violated. Protect me'. After this went on and on, he said to himself, 'I care nothing about what God or people think, but this woman won't quit badgering me. I'll  see that she gets justice - otherwise I'm going to be beaten black and blue by her pounding.'"

Isn't that a wonderful story? The point is, God rewards persistent faith. He shows respect for resilience, which is a quality of character that will not give up or give in to rejection, no matter what its source.

Resilience: Standing Firm in Faith - Part 2

Steadfastness is a character quality that sustains the believer through hard, difficult days. Distractions remind us we are not completely sufficient in and of ourselves. Steadfastness anchored in trust to Christ Jesus prevents evil forces from pulling us away from our commitment.

James 5:11 reminds us of Job's steadfastness. He refused to surrender his faith even as Satan took away all he possessed except his life and his wife. Faithfulness is compared to a house built on solid rock that incapable of being  dislodged from its foundation by a storm. Where steadfastness is weak, it's like a house built on sand and swept away by the storm.

Steadfastness becomes rock-solid as God redeems our heart and soul. He purges away all sin and guilt and then renews our mind as we ingest his word. Jesus desires to create in you a new person that's incapable of falling away regardless of the wickedness you face. This is good news Jesus offers to you.

Salt, Light, and Second-Milers - Part 3

It is not uncommon to want to measure up to the problems life presents to us.  It takes resilience and courage to tackle issues in ways that are productive and healthy. Confidence and knowledge are required to advance toward meaningful goals. Thomas Babington, the English historian, said, "Knowledge advances step by step, not by leaps."

I once talked to an aspiring musician who demonstrated unusual insight for  achieving his goal. He believed studying history, science, English, and math would enhance and hone his capacity for being a composer. Acquiring knowledge step by step demanded persistence and dedication that he was willing to expend.

The good news is, steadfastness can be acquired. Listen to David's prayer to God in Psalm 51:10. "Create in me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me." God rewards those who desire steadfastness and who will allow it to become a constant in their lives. Would you, like David, ask God to give you an unwavering spirit and a pure heart so you can serve him?